In 2015, the Brazilian designer Alexia Hentsch closed her menswear line, Hentsch Man, to focus on maximalist fashion. During a trip to Recife, in northeast Brazil, she was captivated by a group of performers draped in feathers and towering headpieces. Hentsch had always loved costumes, but could she make them herself?

She gave it a try, and by 2016, she was designing costumes for the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

Since then, she’s been hard at work in her São Paulo atelier, creating bespoke pieces for everything from Eurovision productions to children’s ballets. But her busiest season is during Carnival in Rio, when she crafts riotous designs for the world-renowned Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí parade.

Here, the designer shares her favorite sights, restaurants, hotels, and more in the city.

ARP BAR

A café and bar with one of the best views in Rio. Arp is great for all-day brunch and a Caipirinha at sunset. (hotelarpoador.com)

An assortment of food from Bar do Mineiro, a restaurant in Rio de Janeiro.

BAR DO MINEIRO

Bar do Mineiro, in Rio’s Santa Teresa neighborhood, is a great place to have lunch outside the typical beach areas. Go for a great vibe, delicious food, and the chance to see art collected by the owner, who was friends with many important Brazilian artists. (bardomineiro.net)

BAR URCA

Urca is one of the most quaint, beautiful, and off-the-beaten-track neighborhoods in Rio. Sit on the wall across the street from this bar and have pastel e cerveja (a pastry and a beer). (barurca.com)

BIRA DE GUARATIBA RESTAURANTE

While a bit far from the city center, Bira has wonderful food and a great view. For a lovely day, visit the gardens at Sítio Roberto Burle Marx before having lunch at Bira. (restaurantedobira.com)

BRASEIRO

A local, bustling restaurant in the neighborhood of Copacabana. (instagram.com)

GAVEA BEACH CLUB

Guava reminds me a bit of the Mediterranean. A Sicilian-owned kiosk on the beach of São Conrado, it’s one of the rare places in Rio where you can eat Italian food by the ocean. Perfect for lunch or dinner. (gaveabeachclub.com)

NOVA CAPELA

A historic diner right in the center of beautiful, messy Rio. (instagram.com)

O Caranguejo

An easy roadside restaurant in Copa. I love how old-school it is.

A plate of oysters from Satyricon.

SATYRICON

A fancy restaurant with the best fish in the city. The perfect place to bring your parents for lunch or dinner. (satyricon.com)

Sushi Vaz

A small omakase counter in Rio’s tranquil Leblon neighborhood, Sushi Vaz has great food and drinks. (instagram.com)

HARU SUSHI BAR

Another sushi spot in the city. (haruichiban.com)

PABU IZAKAYA

A local, easy sushi restaurant. The kind of place you go for dinner on any random Tuesday. (instagram.com)

The view from the Janeiro Hotel.

JANEIRO HOTEL

A nice hotel in Leblon. (janeirohotel.rio)

CICLOVIA TIM MAIA

Ciclovia Tim Maia is a new 2.5 mile coastal bike path connecting Leblon and São Conrado. It has amazing views the whole way.

Christ the Redeemer, in Tijuca National Park.

Tijuca National Park

Hike any of the many trails in the Tijuca forest for breathtaking views of the city. (paineirascorcovado.com)

Photos: @facebook/bardomin1989; @instagram/restaurante_satyricon; Courtesy of Janeiro Hotel; Christian Adams/The Image Bank/Getty Images